ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A retired Major League Baseball umpire and one of the "Best Lawyers in America" were honored at Essex County's annual Italian American Heritage Month celebration.
On Thursday, county officials honored two local community leaders: Gemma Giantomasi, and Phil Cuzzi.
"Today, we are honoring two proud Italian Americans who have positively impacted our world and our county," Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. said.
Here's what earned Giantomasi and Cuzzi a "Stellas della Contea di Essex" award for 2026, according to the county:
Bar-Raising Lawyer – Gemma Giantomasi represents purchasers, sellers, developers and lenders in real estate transactions. She focuses her practice on real estate acquisitions, sales, finance, condominium development and creation. Her practice also includes alcoholic beverage control law and she has experience with alcoholic beverage control licensing and has successfully handled many applications for person-to-person and place-to-place liquor license transfers before various alcoholic beverage control boards and municipal councils. With Essex County, Ms. Giantomasi has worked as an outside counsel handling real estate transactions involved in the construction of our vocational schools, courthouses and other modern facilities. Ms. Giantomasi received her J.D., magna cum laude, from Fordham University School of Law, where she was inducted into the Order of the Coif. While in law school, she served as a Notes and Articles Editor of the Fordham Law Review and was active on the Moot Court Board. She also interned for the Honorable Dennis M. Cavanaugh, U.S.D.N.J., during law school. She received her B.A. in communications and political science, magna cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania in 2002. Her work over the years has been covered by various law journals and magazines, and she was even recognized as one of Real Estate Law's Best Lawyers in America for the 2026-2027 year. In 2018, she was included in NJBIZ's Forty Under 40 article, as well as their Leading Women in Business articles for both 2019 and 2026.
Extraordinary Umpire – Phil Cuzzi enjoyed a long Major League Baseball umpiring career that traced an extraordinary arc, from his 1991 National League debut to becoming the oldest umpire in Major League history during his final season in 2025. He worked many of the sport's biggest stages, including the 2008 and 2019 All-Star Games, multiple Division and League Championship Series, and served as the home plate umpire for Game 1 of the 2017 World Series. Cuzzi also presided over historic pitching feats, such as Bud Smith's 2001 no-hitter and Cole Hamels' 2015 no-hitter. His journey included a rare mid-career setback, followed by a determined climb back through the minors before rejoining MLB full-time in 2000. In 2025, he made history again as the first umpire ever to work a Major League game at age 70, a milestone that underscored both his longevity and dedication. His retirement in February 2026 closed a career defined by resilience, big-stage assignments, and a deep commitment to the craft of umpiring.
Giantomasi and Cuzzi thanked the county for recognizing their achievements.
"Last year, my father received this award and the fact that I have had the tremendous opportunity to follow that this year makes this honor even more special," said Giantomasi, referring to her father, Frank Giantomasi.
"My parents passed down generational family values of family, hard work and giving back," Giantomasi said.
Cuzzi – who has spoken about his time as a professional umpire with the "Inside Nutley" podcast – said he has gotten a chance to travel across the nation through his baseball career, but there is no place that is as special as North Jersey.
"Our Italian heritage and traditions mean everything to me," Cuzzi said. "I thank my father for leading by example and showing me about working hard and the love and support from my mother."
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